~ I came, I saw, I slept.

Monthly Archives: May 2006

I finally finished reading "The Color Purple" By Alice Walker yesterday. Loved it. Every word of it and the emotions attached with it.

It’s a story about woman Celie, who narrates her story in the form of letters to God. She’s black and uneducated. She gets abused and raped by her father repeatedly, and then, she tries to protect her younger sister from the same fate. She sacrifices her childhood to fulfil her father’s sexual desires and provide her sister with a better life.

Her father, then, marries her off to Mr. ___, who’s already married and has big children, and who was interested in marrying her sister instead. Here onwards starts another cycle of abuse for Celie. Mr ____ ill-treats her, doesn’t provide her with the status of a wife, and still, she manages to survive that treatment and bring up his children. Meanwhile, her sister escapes marraige, runs away from home, and becomes a missionary. Celie is unaware of it as Mr. ___ had been keeping all her sister’s letters from her.

Now enters Shug Avery, Mr ____’s ex-girlfriend. He brings her home and keeps her like his wife. Celie is completely bedazzeled by Shug, her looks, her ways, her singing, her everything. At first, Shug treats Celie like a maid. But, when she finds out what Celie has gone through, she falls in love with her and starts appreciating whatever Celie does for her.

Shug, then, makes Celie aware of what she is, her talents, and her creativity. She makes Celie aware of what love is, what freedom is, and what independence is. Shug is Celie’s lover and her inspiration. Later, the story is about how Celie finally awakens and discovers her "self".

The way in which Alice Walker has explained Shug and Celie’s relationship is beautiful. Her use of black English vernacular is adorable. The depth of the female characters in the story is amazing. The story covers feminism, homosexuality, physical and verbal abuses, incest, and other similar subjects.

"The Color Purple" received the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 1983 and was made into a film in 1985 by Steven Spielberg. The movie was nominated for 11 Academy awards (including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress). The movie went through quite a lot of controversies as well.

I’d like to quote something from this book; something that I loved…

They calls me yellowlike yellow is my name

But if yellow is a namewhy ain’t black the same?

Well if I say Hey Black GirlLord, she tries to ruin my game

Outstanding, is what I have to say about this book.

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Guys, there’d be no updates from me till Wednesday next week, i.e., till June 7. I’m going on a trip to Darjeeling 😀 So cya after coming back!

The weekend was good fun this time. My roomate was quite upset on saturday because she lost the house keys. So I suggested that we should go to Aquatica (a water park in kolkata) to perk up her mood. It was pouring since morning and I asked her to wait till the rain stops. But she was in a hurry to go there. She’s a great swimmer and as soon as she hears "water", she just can’t stop herself! Even I can’t but she was more excited about it than I was 🙂

We finally packed (almost stuffed) all the things in a huge bag and left for Aquatica. It was a great day to be there. Blue sky, black clouds, drizzle, and the sun trying its best to peep out of the clouds. We were behaving like two stupid kids there, jumping around from one pool to another, looking at the long tubes and doing wows and haws, sliding up and down, giggling, and commenting on other people (our usual habit) 😀 In the wave pool, I almost got choked twice. Nid (my roomate) tried her best to make me float and but I ended up in a mess everytime. She told me to put my head in and bubble out from the mouth. What I did was breathe in and swallow water :p This wasn’t expected out of me, who’s actually done rafting in the waters of Rishikesh :p

But anywayz, we had fun. We jumped around in all the pools, sliding up and down, and danced away to glory in the wave pool till our backs started hurting, and then clicked some pics here and there.

The clown and I 😀

The sun and the black clouds

Nid whispering something in the elephant’s ear 😀

Another one of the clouds.. they look like smoke in d sky

One of d pools in Aquatica

Sunday was an okay day. We slept for most of the time cuz our backs were hurting after all that jumping around in the pools. In the evening, we saw "The Da Vinci Code". Nothing great about it. I still like the book better 🙂

The "reservation" issue is hot stuff these days. Almost the whole of India is protesting against it. Rallies, hunger strikes, cops lathi-charging the students, students collasping because of hunger, students dying because of hunger, media not being allowed to cover these incidents, and what not! I’m sure you guys must have heard about Karan Thapar’s interview with Mr. Arjun Singh, our HRD minister. It’s making news these days because of the dumb answers that Mr. Singh has given. Yesterday, I asked Dodo, my friend in Adelaide, to have a look at it. The conversation that we had after he read it made me aware of a lot of facts about the Indian Constitution that I actually didn’t know, or never bothered to know. I felt quite stupid and then, I felt enlightened because now, at least I’m aware of a couple of facts. I guess most of you guys must be aware of these facts. So, for those who are unaware, here’s a part of our conversation (I didn’t have much to say as I was more of blinking and reading :D)

Div: check thisDiv: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/decision-on-quota-is-final-the-chapter-is-closed/11063-4.htmlDiv: the interviewDiv: what r u doing?Dodo: reading the mindless answers that Arjun Singh has given… Div: what a shame tht we such a person as the HRD ministerDodo: its not a shame, its what the population has voted for.. remember "all that you reap is what you sow in the beginning". Div: yeaDodo: I’m not sure if you know, but there are more ammendments to the acts in the Indian Constitution than the original charter of the constitution itself. Div: oh.. i didn’t knowDodo: As far as I am aware India is the only country to have such a constitution where the number of ammendments outnumber the original charter. That in itself should point something out. Div: yup!Dodo: Also there is no provision under the Indian Constitution, in my knowledge, that allows a member of the public to dissolve the parliament of the country for any acts of gross negligence or misrepresentation. Div: hmmmDodo: There is neither a process of appeal to overturn the decision of the parliament, unless a case is lodged in the Supreme Court to have the law overturned by the President of India himself. Div: hmmmDiv: do other countries have such provisions?Dodo: The catch in that however is that if such a decision is taken by the president, and this bill is presented in the Lok Sabha again and is passed by both houses of parliament then the President has to approve it and after that there is NO recourse. Dodo: Other countries have abolished Reservations just for this reason. Div: goodDodo: Good for them, but where do we stand?Dodo: I’m today a PR of another country. I have a course where I can settle in another country. what about the others?Dodo: what about you for example?Dodo: where are you supposed to go?Div: hmmmmDodo: Do you know that no university in India apart from the Open University can give admission to students over 25 years of age!Div: oh.. didn’t know that!Dodo: If a country doesnt allow its own population to become educated then where is the country in general heading?Div: country will go into a ditch..Dodo: Another fact!Dodo: During no election, have I ever seen a written mandate by any party in India, which they fight the elections on. Given the fact that verbal statements hold no respect under the constitution, hold no merit and the person cant be held accountable for such statements. Where does that lead a country?Dodo: I as a person have no avenue of being able to appeal this ruling, which as is alleged in this interview a UNANIMOUS decision. Under such circumstances what is a population’s course of action? Div: population has been doing a lot about it and it has almost no effect on the govt.Dodo: Also the parliament is not required to give any justification as to based on what facts it has passed such a bill! Div: what else will they do apart from protesting?Div: to what extent will they go?Dodo: Considering the fact that they’re all Government of India Employees, and servants of the Republic of India who are they accountable to?Div: yup, what will Arjun Singh say when the parliament itself cannot justify the reasons for apssing a billDodo: Question isnt about what they can do apart from protesting, its the fact that they have no rights to question the rulings of its parliament!Div: ya, so they can just protest, and that’s it.Div: protest and get crushed.Dodo: He doesnt have to say anything. Once a bill has been passed by both houses of Parliament, the only course to revoke the law is to file a case in the Supreme Court and then get the president to revoke it. Dodo: Then again, I’ve already told you what the catch with that is!Div: ya Dodo: Let me tell you another fact!Dodo: If you go into the parliament as a visitor, you can if permitted ask two questions to the house! However, you are not allowed to ask those questions without the approval of the Speaker of the house in the first place and secondly, you cant ask any leading questions from the answers that you obtain in response to your original question!

Dodo: There are lots of loopholes that cater for the protection of the parliament and its decisions in the Indian constitution, however the power of being able to question the government or the opposition is almost non-existent!

Dodo: Read this:

Karan Thapar: I want very much to talk about that formula, but before we come to talk about how you are going to address concerns, let me point one other corollary: Reservations also gives preference and favour to caste over merit. Is that acceptable in a modern society? Arjun Singh: I don’t think the perceptions of modern society fit India entirely.

Dodo: Ask him to explain what in view of the PARLIAMENT OF INDIA is a Modern Society?

Dodo: For me to ask a minister that question, I have to queue for atleast 3 weeks, in term of the fact that my question has to be deposited, possibly reworded to the liking of the house’

Dodo: and then when I get the chance to go to the parliament I can ask the question, without even knowing whether the concerned minister is in the house to answer questions.

Dodo: Also it is not required that the house be discussing the same subject on the given day when you present your question and if it so happens that the relevant official from the ministry is not present, he/she can choose to answer your question in writing at their convenience!

Dodo: What do you think is the likelyhood of being able to ask a question and getting a firm answer from anyone in the Indian Parliament?

Dodo: Oh yeah, you are not allowed to ask question furthermore on proposed bills, until such time that they’re passed by parliament and are law!

Dodo: as a bill has no standing under the constitution until such time!

Dodo: The full protection that is given to the decisions made by the parliament is such tightly knit into the constitution and its ammendments that to revoke one law, or just to bring about changes to it from the public can take anything in the time period of 3 years and upwards

Dodo: also ministers are not required to give details if they so feel that it may affect the socio-economic balance and may make the country unstable.

Dodo: hence when you read through this interview commentry, Arjun Singh is at liberty to deny almost every question that might ask him to quote a figure!

Dodo: You know another thing, defence dealings need not be explained by any MP if they see even as much as think that it may be a matter of National Security. And guess what protects them there, THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT. Under which any dealings, such as that shown to have been made by Bangaru Laxman, can be completely covered up!

And after this conversation, Dodo decides to study law so that he can get to study the Indian Constitution 🙂 I say he must! I dunno how many of you actually reached here after reading this WHOLE conversation, but, I guess it’s worth a read for those who’re unaware, like I was 😀

This is the first time I’ve ACTUALLY been tagged by someone, our BitterSweet that is 😀 So I’m a "tag victim" now and what a tag man! 8 different points of your perfect lover! Isn’t 8 too much? :s I dunno HOW and WHAT I’m gonna write about my PERFECT lover! I’ve been thinking since yesterday and now I thought that I should just write something about it and get rid of this tag thingie 😀

FYI, according to the tag, I need to do this:1. Come up with 8 different points of your perfect lover.2. Mention the sex of the target.3. Tag 8 victims to join this game and leave a comment on their comments saying they’ve been tagged.

Phew!

Lemme swap the first and the second points. Btw, whoever came up with this tag should correct the sequence of it.

So any guesses about my target sex? 😀 Ok lemme give you a clue (only for those who are curious about NoName :D) What’s the sex of NoName? 😀 C’mon, I guess you ppl at least know this much about NoName. Ye ye, everyone must have guessed the sex as Male, right?

Obviously, bcuz NoName’s album says "Sun by NoName Guy" :D:D Now don’t assume that I’m gonna write about NoName, just bcuz he’s a GUY 😀 Well, may be I AM writing abt him, or may be I’m NOT.. dunno! :p

I’ll start with the 8 points now.. umm.. ahem…

He should accept me as I am and love me for what I am.Whoever’s gonna think that I have loads of ego and I’m the stubborn type, who refuses to change in ANY circumstance, is a fool. My guy would be wise enough to understand what I mean by this point. 😀 Also, he should be able to understand my various MOODS and act accordingly, and then, he can expect the same from me too! 🙂

He should not be a Momma’s boy.This point has nothing to do with "respect" and "care" for parents. They are there by default. Also, it has nothing to do with living with the parents. I always like to and would love to. I’m saying all this just to clear the misconceptions of some stupid people about a "Momma’s boy". My guy would know what I mean by this. 😀

He should have a GREAT sense of humour.And ye, he shouldn’t laugh on my stupid jokes just for the sake of making me happy. :p

He should respect women and shouldn’t behave like a "typical stupid guy", who thinks that women are dumb, over-sensitive, and insecure.At the same time, I would like him to be good at flirting :p He should know what and how to appreciate in a woman. He should believe in beauty being skin deep, but then, he should not ignore the outer beauty completely 😀 He should know the essence of a woman. He should know how to bring out the girly side of a tom boyish girl. He should know what makes a woman, a woman. (enough about women, lemme stop here :D)

He should love pets, love getting wet in rain, and love travelling.Now this one’s a miscellaneous point 😛 I’m gonna keep a lot of pets after marraige 😀 Right now, my granny doesn’t let me keep them 😦 I love getting wet in rain and he should be willing to do that with me. He should walk with me in rain holding hands and splash around like a kid 😀 He should be willing to travel anytime, anywhere, without even planning, just like that.. willing to explore places, and willing to click loads of pictures 😀

He should know how to cook, or at least, willing to learn how to cook.Not that I’m gonna make him cook all the time :p I’d love to cook for him and feed him 🙂 but, I’d love to have the food cooked by him at times. May be on the weekends we can cook something together 😀 or may be, when I’m not well and have cold, he should make ginger tea for me and serve it to me with cookies 🙂

He must have a GOOD dressing sense, but, at the same time, he must be cool about it 😀And he should be able to improve mine too :p He should let me wear all kinda clothes, obviously suited to the occassion and the place, but I should be able to wear all kinda clothes 😀

He should know what romance ACTUALLY is.Romance isn’t just about holding hands, kissing, and saying "I love you". There are a lot of ways to be romantic, lot of places to be romantic, lot of things to do when one’s romantic, apart from the usual stuff. I’d like him to be CREATIVE enough to come up with unusual stuff 🙂

There are some more points ya :p 8 is too less 😀

Anyway, like we all know, no one’s perfect. But, two not-so-perfect people can make a perfect relationship by complementing each other, being aware of each other’s moods and needs, and acting accordingly. No egos, no tantrums, no nothing. And then, they should be WILLING enough to WORK towards making their relationship PERFECT. Not 100 percent perfect necessarily, but they’d have to give THEIR 100 percent.

Enough of philosophy :p I’d not bore you anymore ppl. I’m off now.

Oops wait wait wait! I need to tag 8 ppl ya.. the worst part of it :p Okai, so the new victims would be Neil, Bobby, Rahul, Mandy, Abby, M, Vijay, and Rhea. Plz don’t kick me for doing this guys! :p It’s a part of the tagging job you c! 😀

Divoo thinks…

it feels funny at times
and cold too
it makes me feel uneasy
and peaceful too
i dunno what i want to say
but i know what i feel
i need to curb my thoughts
but the fruit of thought i peel
i shall and i will
but how and what
i might be able to
but i feel distraught
they overwhelm me
and i give in
i might do what is not right
but what i do ain't a sin
what i ought to know
is what i know not
i know it all i say
though i need not
are my thoughts the culprit
or is it me?
do i continue to question
or let it be?